BRANCHING OUT – Heritage Museum and Gardens President and CEO Ellen Spear (center) announces plans for The Hundred Acre School, a new STEM-based preschool at Heritage. Spear is joined by Mass. Dept. of Early Education and Care Executive Director JD Chesloff; Melissa Russell, Program Development Leader; Louis Ricciardi, Vice Chair of the Mass Board of Higher Ed and Vice Chair of Heritage; and Thomas L. Weber, Commissioner of the Mass Dept. of Early Education and Care.

Museum branches out with STEM program

For years Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich has delighted patrons of all ages with a wealth of interesting programs. Beginning this fall the museum will open its doors for a brand-new preschool that will focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, also known as STEM.

“Heritage has had a distinguished history with informal STEM education with children and families,” said Ellen Spear, president and CEO of Heritage. “We have continued to strengthen our services to schools and our board has embraced a strategy to become a 21st Century learning center.”

Collaborating with Sandwich Supt. Dr. Richard Canfield, Spear said the museum worked to determine how Heritage resources could be used to benefit the community.

With help from a $164,000 grant from the Dept. of Early Education and Care (EEC) to assist in development of STEM curriculum, the Hundred Acre School is slated to open Sept. 2.

A motivating factor in the creation of the new preschool, Spear noted, was finding a means of bringing and retaining young families to live and work on Cape Cod. Research indicated that many families are desirous of high quality preschool care.

“We determined that we have the resources potentially,” Spear said. “There existed a gap in the community for this type of specialized preschool.”

With an emphasis on STEM in school curriculum on the local, state and national levels, the creation of such a preschool seemed like the perfect plan, especially given the vast resources available at the museum.

“Hidden Hollow will be their playground,” Spear said.

The new preschool will allow children to enjoy lessons in both indoor and outdoor settings thanks to museum renovations, with students using STEM components such as technology, observation, discovery and self-directed learning.

“It is, we believe, the only preschool in the country housed in a museum using a specially created STEM curriculum that is aligned with curriculum locally and nationally,” Spear said, adding that it will be of particular benefit to Sandwich students who take part in a STEM academy in middle school. The preschool itself, however, is open to children across the Cape.

“It’s not just for Sandwich,” Spear said. “It’s for children anywhere.”

“The folks at Heritage spoke with our director of early childhood, Roslyn Sliwa, and staff came to talk to each of our classes about the program, and I think it would be a great opportunity for our preschool children,” said Barnstable Supt. Dr. Mary Czajkowski.

The inherent inquisitiveness of children lends itself naturally to such a program, Spear added.

“Kids are great scientists,” she said. “They ask, ‘What if I throw this rock in the water, what will happen?’ We’ll be tapping into that natural curiosity.”

Spear also said the preschool will welcome local STEM workers into the classroom.

“Another important distinguishing feature is that we’ll be bringing in working scientists, engineers, and mathematicians to roll around on the floor with the kids,” Spear said. “We want to put these people in front of the kids as role models for the children.”

An added bonus is that the preschool will be open year-round for full or half days, allowing children and teachers to inspire each other.

“We think it will be wonderful to watch the development of these children year-round at Heritage,” Spear said. “Young children spark such creativity; it really is a two-way street.”

Aware of the financial challenges life on the Cape can pose for young families, Spear noted that the price of the preschool will be in line with that of other private programs in the area.

“It’s not more expensive, but the quality for parents looking for this type of environment will be a great value,” Spear said.

The program will be able to accommodate 40 students and will feature a 1:10 staff-to-student ratio, with enrollment open now. To offer prospective families a look at what the new preschool will offer, open houses are scheduled for Jan. 28 and Feb. 12. Families who enroll by Feb. 28 will receive a $100 credit toward tuition.

“We hope it will be a model not only statewide but also in the local region as well,” Spear said. “STEM education needs to start early as possible.”

Enrollment is now open for the Hundred Acre School at Heritage Museum and Gardens. Open houses for prospective families will be held Jan. 28 and Feb. 12 from 9:30-11 a.m. or 5:30-7 p.m. For more information visit 100acreschool.org or call 508-888-3300, ext. 158.